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We’ve had a mild winter so far, does this affect the dormancy of my fish?

Ivy – Schaumburg, IL

We may be having a mild winter, but a mild winter for humans doesn’t really mean the same for your fish. During the winter months, fish living in outdoor ponds will go “dormant,” slowing down all their systems and responses in order to conserve energy during cold temperatures. Monitoring your pond’s temperature is easy – we recommend this handy Pond Logic® Floating Thermometer.

The signs your fish are ready for dormancy are relatively easy to pick out – colder temperatures will mean less food, to which your fish will react to naturally. Their metabolism and digestion will slow down, as will their movement in general, while they conserve energy. Don’t be alarmed if your fish appear “lazy” or don’t have any appetite – this is all normal. It’s also a good idea to wait until spring, or whenever it is consistently warm, to start feeding your fish again regularly. Do remember that your fish will require a couple days to digest their food and even if they become more active on a warm day you won’t want them returning to a dormant state while still digesting.

However, if Old Man Winter does sneak up on you, don’t wait until the first freeze to make sure your fish have enough oxygen and aeration to keep the water from freezing over. We recommend using these Pond Logic® PondAir™ Aeration Systems to keep your pond, and your fish, in good stable condition for the winter.

Some people like to leave their aeration system running year ‘round, so feel free to do so as well, we’re sure your fish won’t mind!

Ihave a small pond maintenance business on eastern Long Island. I keep two catfish (channel cats) in my own ponds, and many of my customers also have them.. There are pros and cons. They are very active during the season and will help solve most over feeding problems many people have (regardless of how many times you tell people they are feeding thier fish too much!) They do grow very quickly and if you have a small pond 1500 gallons or less they will most likely out grown the pond in 2-3 years and be a little to aggressive at feeding time. A true “Koi Expert” however will most likely tell you catfish are a “no no”.